Personal Growth -- Part II

It has been suggested (I think “challenged” really does describe it better) that I enter a project in the next contest. Since I try not to ignore the Universe when it pushes me towards something, I feel that it is my Spiritual obligation to accept the challenge. Yup, there it is in black and white for all to see. I have thrown my hat into the ring!!

Now, submitting an entry isn’t a problem. I just have to do something that is creative and/or has good workmanship. That just means that I need to “make it my own” and try my best. But doing a “justa” (just an entry) is not good enough. I need (for my personal growth) to put my full-fledged effort, pride and creativity into this project.

The product (the submission for the summer contest) is not my goal. The process is my goal. It is my goal in life and is now a goal of the contest entry.

Where do I go from here?1) I need to listen to the wood2) I need to envision something, something that comes from my Spirit, that I can do and do well, and that speaks to the viewer, saying “I am a Wood Art Sculpture”.

Debbie, when I left the corporate life, I had had 35 years of working in a competitive environment, the last 15 of which were at a CEO level. Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed the challenges and rewards that this brought me, I was determined to move into a new more relaxed phase of life during my retirement years. I saw woodworking as the vehicle that would deliver this.

Although my involvement in woodworking has turned into a passion, I can confirm that it has brought me the relaxed environment I sought. At first, I decided that I didn’t want the old competitive feelings to crowd into my woodworking life. But eventually I succumbed.

I’ve entered about six woodworking competitions, and won two. I was delighted to win these, but I also received sufficient satisfaction from the four I didn’t win that I certain I will continue to put my work in other contests in the future.

When thinking about this, I had to ask myself the reason I received satisfaction from entering competitions even though I’ve only won 1 in 3. Well I have grown to understand this about myself. Nothing motivates me more, nothing satisfies my ego more, nothing makes me feel better about myself more than to have people affirm my work. (It probably explains why I post here at LumberJocks – I am rewarded when even people who I don’t really know, pass comment about my work.) I really don’t have to win to receive personal reward – and that’s a good thing!

You have no idea how many times I run upstairs, carrying something I’ve done in the shop, to show my wife. “Look at this, Honey!” and “What do you think of this, Love?” or “Does this look OK, Dear?” It probably drives here crazy, but I almost always get some kind of feedback that allows me to return to my shop feeling affirmed.

So, if affirmation motivates you, consider yourself affirmed in your decision to set before yourself the goal of entering the summer competition.

Well Don you have two judges that OK that project. Yourself that you felt it complete enough to show it to someone and your wife (Biased she maybe) but her confirmation to give you a satisfaction or possiably an enhancement to make it better.

-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Southern Delaware soon moving to Virginia karsonwm@gmail.com †

and that, Don, is the trick to achieving success—- knowing the motivation behind your actions. It is not the “win” that I seek, or that you seek. For you and I, it is “words of affirmation”. I am not sure, for you, what the affirmation is really affirming for you, and for me, well, I guess I’m still figuring that out. Do I want to be seen as “good enough”, or is it “wow that’s really creative”, or is it “that’s inspiring” or… If I spend enough time on this search I will find out an area of healing that needs to be tended to. In the meantime, this upcoming competition is a personal test of producing quality, taking the time to focus on all the little details and not just the overall product.

I thank you for your support. I’m sure I will need it in the following months!! Might need some help to keep my on my path of “details”.